Implement hitch



May 16, 1950 MoNAlR 2,507,799

IMPLEMENT HITCH Filed June 20, 1947 INVENTOR.

210 P. MCNAIB Patented May 16, 1950 IMPLEMENT HITCH Eric P. McNair, Mattoon, 111., assignor of onethird to Wayne L. Benedict and Kenneth Swartwood, both of Danville, Ill.

Application June 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,837

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a hitch for attaching one vehicle to another. It specifically relates to a device for attaching an implement to a tractor, for example, a, wagon to a farm tractor and the like. It also relates to devices such as a hitch for attaching a trailer to another vehicle such as a car.

While it is to be understood that the hitch has many other uses, it will be discussed herein primarily as a tractor hitch.

Many operations conducted around the farm are carried on by one man and it is inconvenient or impossible for him to obtain the assistance of others. The development of an apparatus whereby one man may work without assistance of others is a real aid to farmers. The present invention is of this character in that it permits one man to couple the implement to the tractor without getting off the tractor seat. One man may also uncouple the hitch and also it is not necessary for him to get ofi the tractor seat to uncouple the hitch. The main problem heretofore has been for one man to couple the hitch from the tractor seat. The tractor is usually backed toward a wagon tongue and some shifting of the position of the tractor either frontward or backward, or even sideways is required to get the tractor in proper position with relationship to the wagon tongue for coupling it. Therefore it is necessary that the hitch can be coupled from the tractor seat in order that the operator of the tractor can manipulate the tractor into coupling position. This can be done by use of my hitch. Once the hitch is coupled, the problem no longer exists in regard to the manipulation of the tractor, and it is a simple operation to uncouple the hitch without getting off the seat. Coupling the wagon to the tractor is the real problem, uncoupling is not. I have solved the coupling problem for one man operating the tractor from the seat.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a hitch that can be coupled from a tractor seat by the tractor driver.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coupling which is automatic. That is, when the coupling is made there is no way possible for the hitch to become uncoupled without a positive operation by the operator. This is highly important since it does not permit the operator to forget to place into position a positive coupling, as is the case in many hitches on the market. If the operator forgot to put in position the positive coupling on hitches presently on the market, the wagon or other vehicle might become detached and if this occurred on the highway, serious injury to property and life might occur.

I also provide a hitch which is simple in design and economical to 'build.

It is a further object of my invention to pro- 2 vide a hitch in which there is substantially tight coupling which prevents chattering and play.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hitch in which the more complicated and expensive portion attaches to the tractor draw bar and the less expensive and less complicated portion is attachable to the tongue of a wagon and the like. This is a big advantage to a farmer who has a number of vehicles to be pulled by a tractor since he need buy only one expensive part of the hitch which is attachable to the tractor and he can buy as many of the less expensive portions as needed for attaching to the wagon tongues. This is a distinct improvement in the automatic hitch art.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for distributing the force exerted against the latch embodied in the tractor portion of the hitch in order to relieve a substantial portion of the load on the pivot point of the latch.

Other advantages and objects will become apparent by referring to the drawing.

The tongue of an implement such as a wagon is represented by the numeral ill. The loop member H is a portion which is attached to the tongue. The loop member Il may be welded or fastened by suitable means to the plate [2 which is fastened to the wagon tongue by means of the bolts I3. It is preferable that the loop ll be in a, perfect circle in order to avoid all binding when the coupling is made, especially when turning the wagon or in coupling the wagon when the tongue is at an angle to the direction of movement of the tractor. For these reasons the front of the plate I2 is cut away to keep the circle at the point I4. It is also essential in order to prevent binding that the plate l2 extend beyond the end of the tongue 31.

The latch member adaptable to be fastened to the draw bar of a tractor is generally designated by the numeral l5. It comprises the adaptor plate IE to which is attached the jaw-like portion I! having the open jaw l8. The adaptor plate l6 has a pair of slotted openings I9 which makes the adaptor plate readily attachable to the draw bar 20 of the tractor. The slotted openings permit variations in the distance apart of the holes in the draw bar to permit attachment to a tractor draw bar of any size and type, with exception of the swinging type. The bolts 2! fasten the adaptor plate to the draw bar 20. In addition, holes 22 and 23 are provided in the adaptor plate to permit attachment to a swinging type of draw bar. In the swinging type of draw bar, a bar extending in aligmnent with the direction of movement of the tractor is plvotally attached to the draw bar 20 and in many instances farmers prefer to attach the hitch to the swinging draw bar. The inner sides of the lower side 24 are cut away as shown on the drawing to permit the bolt at 23 to drop in place.

The upper side 25 of the jaw extends over the lower side 24 to permit pivoting of the latch 26 about the pivot 21. It is desirable to have the latch 26 pivot about the axis 2'! at a distance as far away as practical from the contact of the ring H with the latch 26 in order that the latch may readily be released when it -is desired to uncouple the hitch. Such uncoupling is helped additionally by having the curvature of the latch at the point 28 substantially the same as the arc in which the latch is pivoted about the pivot 21. When it is desired to uncouple the hitch, very little slack need be obtained in having the wagon tongue move forward relative to the tractor to permitsuificient clearance by the ring II and the curved portion 28of the latch 26 to permit the latch to be raised free of the ring. Once the latch is raised, uncoupling is accomplished by merely driving the tractor away from the wagon tongue, whereby the ring pulls out'from the jaw and the wagon tongue falls to the ground.

An important feature of the invention is a provision of the shoulder 29'on the latch which forms abearing surface at the corresponding bearing surface 30 on the top side of the upper side of the jaw 25. It has been'found that substantially over 50% of the stress is distributed on the bearing surfaces 30' which relievesthe stress on the pivot-point 21, and avoids'any possibility of the pivot 21 breaking due to undue stress. 1

A hook member 3 -is attached to the shoulder 29 by means of welding or otherwise fastened, which permits the driver of the tractor to reach back with a hand-operated hook on the end of a pole and, provided sufficientclearance has been obtained as heretofore described, an upward movement permits the uncoupling of the hitch.

Ordinarily the weight of the latch 25' is sufficient to keep the latch closed, butv the spring 32 attached to the hook 3| at the point 33 and to the pin .34. whichis welded to the, lowerside of the jaw. provides a positive means for always maintaining the latchinclosedjposition. Such.

use a hand-operated hook for lifting the. wagon tongue in the.proper place prior to coupling. The operator for coupling merely passes the a hand-operated hook ithrough the hook 35 and 4 uncoupled. This is a distinct advantage over any hitch presently on the market. While I have described only one embodiment of my invention, other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1 A tractor hitch of the character described comprising a base plate including an adapter for attaching said hitch to a tractor draw bar, two vertical members integral with said plate forming'an open channel, a horizontal opening in saidchannel members forming an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said opening being adapted to receive a traction ring, the upper jaw being substantially longer than the lower jaw, pivot means mounted adjacent the terminal end of said upper jaw forwardly of the terminal and of said lower jaw, a latch member pivotally mounted on said pivot means within said channel, said latch comprising shoulders above said pivot means adapted to reston said .vertical members when the latch is in closed. position, a bill on said latch extending downwardly and inwardly fromsaid pivot means and into' the channel of said-lower jaw thereby blocking the opening between the jaws when the latch is closed leaving an opening between said latch and the point of. juncture of the jaws, the outwardtportioniof the jaws and the billwhich' normally lieacross the jaws being adapted and shaped toiguide a draft ring into the opening betweensaid vjaws manual latch opening means, spring means normally urging the latch closed, said latch being positioned to open with an. inward and upward motion and to be urged into closed position. when a draft load is applied;

2. The hitch of claim. 1 wherein the draft hearing face ofthe billis curved downwardly, and

then'outwardly adjacent the tip, into said open- .ing.

tached to the top .of said .latch.

holds the wagon tongue substantially opposite thejaw opening [8 and 'then backs thetractor into. the loop member II, which forcesthe latch upwardly, and as .soon as the hook I l passes the point 28 the.latch. automatically closes andrthe.

the tractor seat and which can be just as readily.

5. The hitch of 'claim. 1 having a manual opening means resting. partiallywithin the channel formed by. the :s'ides of saidbody.

6. The hitch of claim 1 wherein the spring is a tension. spring attached at one end to said manual opening means and at'the other end to a point in said, lower jaw;

ERIC P. McNAIR.

REFERENCES CITE!) The following references are of record in the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

